Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush still hospitalized

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Former U.S. PresidentGeorge H. W. Bush is continuing to recover at a Houston hospitalsix weeks after being admitted for a bronchial infection, and itwas not clear when he would go home, his spokesman said onMonday.

"In recent days he has taken great pride watching bigfootball wins by Texas A&M and the Houston Texans," said thespokesman, Jim McGrath, in a statement. "While no immediatetimeline has been set for the President's discharge, the Busheswish to thank everyone for their many kind messages."

Bush, 88, a Republican who during his one term in office leda coalition that ejected Iraqi forces from Kuwait in 1991, wasadmitted to Methodist Hospital Nov. 23 for bronchitis. He wastransferred to intensive care in December after setbacksincluding a persistent fever, McGrath has said. Later inDecember, his condition improved enough for him to be moved to aregular patient room, McGrath said at the time.

Bush has lower-body parkinsonism, which causes a loss ofbalance, and has used wheelchairs for more than a year.

The 41st U.S. president, and father of former PresidentGeorge W. Bush, served as a congressman, as ambassador to theUnited Nations, as envoy to China, as CIA director and as vicepresident for two terms under Ronald Reagan.